In Kanata, dental implants are common procedures. If you’ve lost or broken a tooth, your dentist in Kanata will likely suggest dental implants because of their permanent, durable, and esthetically pleasing nature. All in all, modern dental implants are highly safe and successful, likely because they’ve gone through several variations and design upgrades since they were discovered over 50 years ago. While we can date modern dental implants back to the 1960’s, this was not humanity’s first run in with tooth replacement. For that, we must go back much farther.
The Etruscans (c. 500 BC)
It’s hard to believe, but tooth replacements go as far back as 500 BC. The ancient Etruscans, living in what is now Italy, replaced missing teeth with their own version of today’s Kanata dental implants. These replacements often consisted of tooth-like structures carved from the bones of oxen.
The Mayans (c. AD 600)
Other early evidence of dental implants is attributed to the Mayan civilization. The skulls, which were first found in 1931, showed evidence of different dental implants than their predecessors. Unlike the Etruscans, the Mayans often used pieces of shells to replace lost or broken teeth.
The Hondurans (c. AD 800)
The Hondurans are the first examples of preparing and placing a stone implant to replace missing teeth. The strangest part about some of these primitive dental implants is that even though there was no certified dentist in Kanata performing these procedures, some of the replacements were actually fused to the jawbone.
Europe (c. AD 1500-1800)
From the 16th century until the 19th, a number of different substances were used as implants, including silver capsules, corrugated porcelain, iridium tubes, and even human teeth. For a period of time, the teeth of cadavers were collected and used as dental implants. However, these implants were typically subject to infection and were often ultimately rejected by the host.
Modern Implants (1952-Present)
The basis for the modern Kanata dental implants we know and love today can be traced back to 1952, when orthopedic surgeon Dr. Per-Ingvar Branemark encountered difficulties removing a titanium cylinder he had placed in a bone. This lead to the understanding of titanium’s ability to fuse to bone, which is known as osseointegration. This phenomenon would continue to be studied until its first application in 1965. While dental implants have been continually redesigned since then, the basic premise has remained the same.
In Kanata, dental implants have come a long way since their ancient first uses. If your dentist in Kanata has suggested dental implants, rest assured the modernized procedure very rarely provides anything but highly satisfactory results. For more information on dental implants, contact your local dentist in Kanata today.
